Festivals, Fitness and Friendship Top the Weekend Planner, Sept. 15 – 17

Both Poolesville and Burtonsville host parades and festivals this weekend. The Burtonsville Day Parade and Festival kicks off Saturday, September 16 at 10 a.m. with a parade from Paint Branch High School to Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center. The annual festival follows at the recreation center, library and Columbia Park. Activities include live music, health fair, car show, and demonstrations. Fun activities for children include moon bounce, obstacle course, rock climbing wall, ice cream eating contest, face painting, magic show and more.

The festivities in Poolesville begin with a 5K run/walk to raise funds for the Monocacy Lions Club, Poolesville High School Cross Country Team, Poolesville Green and WUMCO Help, Inc.  At 10 a.m., the parade will proceed along Fisher Avenue from Poolesville Elementary School and end at the intersection of Fisher Avenue and Route 109.  Activities following the parade include live music, classic and electric car shows, presentation at the John Poole House by Historic Medley, skateboard contest and more.

The Montgomery County Friendship Picnic takes place at Wheaton Regional Park Sunday September 17 from 1 – 5 p.m.  Food and drinks will be provided with kosher, halas, vegetarian and traditional options available. Activities include train and carousel rides, entertainment, face painting and more. The picnic is supported by the Montgomery County Committee on Hate/Violence (COHV), Office of Human Rights and the Human Rights Commission.

Below are some additional ideas for fun this weekend in Montgomery County:

Friday, Sept. 15

1 – 9 p.m. Free outdoor health and wellness expo and dance fitness festival followed by a Salsa & Bachata block party. Veterans Plaza at Silver Spring Civic Center. Watch video from last years festival, here.
5 – 8 p.m. 15th Washington Ukranian Festival includes exhibits, vendors, children’s activities, crafts, food, beer garden, Ukranian music and dance performances. St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 15100 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring.
6 p.m. The Kiti Gartner band performs as part of the Backyard Concert series at Diamond Farms Park. 857 Quince Orchard Blvd, Gaithersburg.
6 – 7:30 p.m. The Gaithersburg Arts Barn Anniversary Celebration includes live music, artist demonstrations, and opening of the Celebrating 15 art exhibit. 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg.
6 – 9 p.m. Next up in the Rio Summer Concert Series is the First Class band. Rio Washingtonian Center, Gaithersburg.
6 – 9 p.m. Friday Night Live concert series includes live music from Nelly’s Echo, small plates from Finnegan’s Wake and wine sampling by Dawson’s Market. Rockville Town Center.
7 – 8 p.m. Interact Story Theatre presents The Legend of Pufferfish Pat at Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, Silver Spring.
7 – 9:30 p.m. Wine & Improv features an evening of fun and games at the Glenview Mansion Cottage. Must be 21 years of age. Rockville Civic Center Park.
8 p.m. Montgomery Playhouse production of The Canterville Ghost tells the story of an American family setting up residence in a haunted mansion in rural England. Gaithersburg Arts Barn.
8 p.m. Baltimore based High Voltage band pays tribute to AC/DC at The Fillmore Silver Spring.
8 p.m. Olney Theatre and Round House Theatre co-production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights was extended to Oct. 22. Olney Theatre Center mainstage, Olney.
8 p.m. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs Tschaikovsky Thrill Ride at Strathmore Music Center, North Bethesda.

Saturday, Sept. 16

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Take a tour of Manna Food’s new mobile kitchen and pop-up pantry at Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring.
9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Montgomery County H2O Summit provides opportunity to learn about water quality and how to become involved in your neighborhood. Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive.
10 a.m. – noon  Students may earn SSL hours at Montgomery Parks’ Weed Warrior Workday at Elmhirst Parkway Neighborhood Conservation Area, Park is located at 7401 MacArthur Boulevard, Cabin John.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The 27th Annual Burtonsville Parade and Festival , Burtonsville. https://www.burtonsvilleday.com/event-info/
11 a.m.  Learn how to meditate at this free beginning meditation class at the Meditation Museum, Silver Spring.
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Learn all about monarch butterflys with exhibits, face painting, crafts, movies and more at Monarch Fiesta Day. Black Hill Nature Programs, Boyds.
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Aspen Hill Community Festival includes puppet shows, balloon animals, crafts, live music and more. Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville.
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Celebrate and learn all about honey bees and other pollinators at Childrens’ Day. Brookeside Gardens, Wheaton.
11:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. Interact Story Theatre presents The Legend of Pufferfish Pat at Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, Silver Spring.
Noon – 6 p.m. Bluegrass on the Farm at the Agricultural History Farm Park includes bluegrass and traditional music by three bands: Circa Blue, East of Monroe, and Hickory Grove. Bring a chair or blanket. 18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood.
1:30 – 3 p.m. Celebrate Croydon Creek Nature Center’s 15th birthday with live animal show, hike and birthday treat. 852 Avery Rd, Rockville. Must register for course #2121.
1 – 3 p.m. Montgomery County Recreation hosts an expo of therapeutic recreation programs at Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Silver Spring.
6 – 8 p.m. The Reflex band performs a musical tribute to the 80s era at Gaithersburg Concert Pavilion, 31 South Summit Avenue.
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Rock and roll band, Loose Ends perform at Nando’s Spicy Saturday Night Concerts at the Fountain Plaza Stage, Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring.
6 – 9 p.m. Rio Summer Concert Series presents the country and rock band, Dunns River band at Rio Washingtonian Center, Gaithersburg.
3 p.m. – 9 p.m. Enjoy an evening polo match and food from Founding Farmers at the Summerhill Polo exhibition match, Elgin and Jerusalem Road, Poolesville. Free tickets available, here.
8 p.m. Olney Theatre and Round House Theatre co-production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights was extended to Oct. 22. Olney Theatre Center mainstage, Olney.
8 p.m. Montgomery Playhouse production of The Canterville Ghost tells the story of an American family setting up residence in a haunted mansion in rural England. Gaithersburg Arts Barn, Kentlands.

Sunday, Sept. 17

8 – 10:30 a.m. Last free rabies clinic for cats and dogs of the season. Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center, Derwood.
2 – 4 p.m. Meet the artist(s) reception for the two exhibits at BlackRock Center for the Arts. Germantown.
2 p.m. Montgomery Playhouse production of The Canterville Ghost tells the story of an American family setting up residence in a haunted mansion in rural England. Gaithersburg Arts Barn, Gaithersburg.
3 – 5 p.m. Poetry reading and open mic at The Gallery at Chesapeake Framing. Poets Ann Bracken, Cherryl T. Cooley, Lucinda Marshall, Vivek Narayanan, Matthew Ratz and Sarah Ann Winn will read from and discuss their work. 123 Crown Park Ave., Gaithersburg.  301.330.5578.
7:30 p.m. Violinist Rachel Barton Pine performs at Bender JCC of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville.
8 p.m. Olney Theatre and Round House Theatre co-production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights was extended to Oct. 22. Olney Theatre Center mainstage, Olney.

Watch the latest Culture Spot MC video, below, for more events happening this month:

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